44 Magnum Recipe search help

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Simoniztexas

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This is my first post here so I want to thank everyone in advance for any help you can give.

I am searching for a recipe for my S&W 629 Classic 8 3/8”, I am trying to use as many of the components I already have on hand. I have been searching the loading manuals and can’t find anything using what I have. I will be using them to hunt so I want them as consistent as I can get.
On Hand:
Powder: Longshot, W231, HP38, H4198, Green Dot, Benchmark and Varget.
Primers: Winchester Standard Large pistol
Bullets: Speer 240 Gr. JSP, Hornady 225 Gr. FTX
Brass: Winchester and Remington
I know I will have to trim the cases to use the Hornady FTX.

I will go buy other powder if needed. I know the last two are rifle powders.
I was hoping to use the Longshot as I have a bit and don’t use it on anything else.

I guess my question is does anyone know where I can find a recipe using:
240 Gr. Speer JSP, Longshot and Winchester standard primers?

I am a fairly experienced loader but I’m always learning.

Thanks,

Chris
 
Welcome to TFL.

An 8-3/8" 629 Classic is a beast that can tame just about any round (I have an 8-3/8" non Classic 629).

I think you might need a different propellant. Neither Speer nor Hornady publishes any data for those propellants with their 240's.

W231/HP-38 (they are the same propellant in different packaging) is too fast for anything other than light pooper-poppers in 44 Mag. Green Dot is still too fast (IMO). Benchmark, 4198, and Varget are rifle powders (too slow). That leaves Longshot. I know little about Longshot. And by "little," I mean nothing :p.

Typically, the most common propellants for big 44 Mag loads, are 2400, 4100, W296/H-110 (like W231/HP-38, they are the same), IMR 4227, VV N-110, or Power Pro 300 MP. I'd say 95%+ of the magnum level 44's that are handloaded used one of these - especially with the heavy 240 grain slugs.

I use a lot of Speer 240 JSP's - have for decades (but I don't shoot things with a heartbeat - just not my thing). During most of that time, I used Winchester 296 and CCI 350 Magnum primers (296 needs mag primers). I stuck with Speer's published data. These days, I prefer a little less spunk and so I moved to 2400 - it's slightly more tame. Still using Speer published data. (These days, I shoot a 629 Classic 5" bbl, and the "Dirty Harry" resides in the safe about 364 days a year.)

If your intent is hunting; and you don't mind getting another propellant; might I suggest Power Pro 300 MP. Your long barrel will gobble up the big slow burning PP300MP, making full use of it. It'd be a fun ride. And both Speer and Hornady have published data for it.
 
Thanks for the input. I don’t mind buying different powder. Will the PP300 and 2400 work ok with the Winchester standard primers? I figure it would be ok in the longer barrel.
 
As Nick said, 2400, H110, 296 are the favorite big bore magnum powders. I'd add IMR4227 to the heap, I like it for my lead bullets pushing Mag velocities, it can be a little dirty but there is zero flash with it, might be important on those early dawn/dusk shots.

If you are not already aware, the manufacturer and design of the bullet being loaded isnt to important, the weight and jacket type is. For instance my LEE book shows load for both a 200 grain jacketed bullet and for a 200 grain XTP.....which is a jacketed bullet. Perhaps one could argue bearing surface blah blah blah. Start at the minimum and work up.
 
Will do. I will ask you the same question on the Primers. Will the Winchester Standard primers light those powders up well enough?
 
Will the PP300 and 2400 work ok with the Winchester standard primers?
Click to expand...

Yes.

The Hornady manual specifically mentions WLP primers with all their data - which includes 2400 and PP300.

Speer doesn't list PP300 (I thought it did, but I was mistaken); but shows 2400 as not needing a CCI 350 magnum primer. And I personally load 2400 with standard CCI 300's.
 
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The old standard load of a 240 gr. jacketed bullet with 24 gr. of 296 leaves little to be desired as far as I am concerned....assuming you don't want a reduced load. The 296 goes through a powder measure like water and is very consistent. I have used this load with standard and magnum primers over the years, and haven't seen any difference, although others might have.
If you are using cast bullets, the whole picture changes....
 
With 240 gr cast lead I use Universal. Have used HS-6 Trail Boss red dot. 2400 alll are ok for plinking. The universal is the cleanest
 
For those Hornady FTX bullets I would get some Hornady brass, so you can reliably tell trim length of empty cases by the headstamp. You would need to be equipped to trim cases to the FTX standard.

If my mission, like yours, was to hunt with the gun and loads, I would be looking for load data to dictate what components I obtain, i.e. you may be approaching this backwards.

To avoid needing magnum primers, I think A2400 is the best bet. I am also very happy with IMR4227, while using it in 41 rather than 44 Magnum. Neither seems to require Mag prmers, although Winchester WLP serves as their "magnum". Then again, 30 bucks or so gets you a 1000 of the right primers, as needed.
 
I've used a lot of LongShot in the 44 mag, and it will work fine for your 240 gr bullets. Hodgdon shows 11.0 gr starting and 12.1 gr max for your combo, with velocities from 1250' to 1330' per second. I'd load 10 each at 11.0, 11.5 and 12.0 grains and see which shoots the best 10 shot group. Even the lightest of these three loads will kill anything you'd hunt with a handgun.
 
I have had a 44 Spl in a Colt SAA for many years. Unique has always been my choice of powder for it. I recently got a Ruger in 44 Mag. I guess Unique will work in it too, however the manuals I have seem to lean towards AA#9, *296, and IMR-4227. *H110 may be a good choice also. I will use CCI large Pistol Std primers.
 
Thanks everyone for the input. I picked up some 296 today and just finished expanding and priming the cases. The Speer book says 22-24 Gr. Of 296 with 240 Gr. JSP. There loadinging is out of a 7.5” Redhawk. I was thinking of starting at 21,22,23,23.5,24. I will be shooting it out of S&W 629 Classic 8 3/8”.
Your thoughts?
 
My thought is to consider the advice not to reduce loads for 296/H110. Your list shows a spread of more than 10%.

You still need the magnum primers, which are directly associated with 296/H110 use.
 
I'd suggest,if you are trying 296/H-110,magnum primer,good crimp.

Load at least recommended starting load. With this powder,you only load serious 44 Magnum loads.
However,I'd not push the max . Get a clean burn and stable velocity.

I know S+W beefed up later 29's and the 629...but my blind,uninformed opinion(which could be wrong) I would not pursue the diminishing returns of the last couple of grains of powder in a S+W.
I'd save that for a Redhawk,maybe.
If you want a little more flexibility along with good,solid performance you might consider 2400. IIRC, Elmer did pretty well with it behind a 240 gr hard cast Keith SWC.

IMO,wheel weight alloy cast bullets work great with full house H-110/296 loads. (or any other good .44 powder)Just don't load undersize bullets. See if a 431 or 430 will slip through the cylinder throat easy enough for loading.
I've had great results with LaserCast .In fairness,some give them mixed reviews.

The Hogdon site is good for data.
 
I can go look. The hard copy loading manuals certainly did.
Update : I'm surprised. Hogdon does not cuurently show H-110/296 data for a 240 gr lead SWC.
I have no idea why. Some 240 gr lead bullets are soft lead. Those may not be suitable.
I can't say. I've shot a lot of wheelweight over H-110. I will load it the same when I load some more.

FWIW,I've used it behind 300 gr Lasercast with good results.
 
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"....a recipe using:..." Who made the bullet doesn't matter. Neither does the barrel length. Nor do you require any primer other than your Winchester Large Pistol. The cartridge name does not mean you need magnum primers. None of those powders, including H110, require a magnum primer.
The 240 grain JHP data on Hodgdon's site(that includes HP-38 data) is all you need. Only difference will be the velocity due to the difference in barrel length.
"...Hodgdon does not currently show..." Most likely not tested.
"...thinking of starting at 21..." No. Start at the starting load of 22. The ONLY difference will be the velocity. Even that won't be much different. Ballistics by the Inch shows the difference between a 7" and 8" barrel(no actual firearms tested) with jacketed 240's is less than 100 FPS.
 
My understanding is that H110/W296 requires magnum primers more than any other, and not just because the cartridge is a "magnum".
 
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